Japan to Begin Water Release from Fukushima-1 Nuclear Plant This Week

The release of water used for cooling the reactors at the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant will begin this week. Local media reports that the government has decided to start releasing the water on August 24.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that despite concerns and protests from China, Japan will begin to discharge water from the nuclear plant into the ocean on Thursday, noting that the process will commence if weather conditions permit.

It is important to remember that in March 2011, an earthquake near Japan's northeastern coast caused a tsunami. The massive wave struck the Fukushima-1 nuclear plant, leading to a large-scale disaster. In 2021, Japanese authorities announced plans for the gradual release of water from Fukushima-1 into the ocean after special treatment.

Tokyo's decision has prompted widespread discontent among neighboring countries, particularly representatives of the fishing industry, who are concerned that consumers will reject any seafood caught in the area. Some scientists believe that the long-term effects of such a move are unclear, and thus the water discharge should be postponed.